I don’t really remember what my son did that evening to cause me to put him in timeout, but I know that he needed a minute to think about what he had done.
That’s why we do timeouts in our house. When my kids make a poor choice, they take a break and pause for a few minutes. This break allows them to regroup, reconsider their actions and then rejoin the family when their attitudes have changed.
One evening before dinner a few years ago, my son had done something that was “timeout worthy.” He was sitting in the corner, and after about two minutes I walked over and knelt down to look him in the eye.
“Do you remember what you did that made momma have to put you here?”
He nodded.
“Will you try to make a better choice next time?”
He nodded again.
“Well, mommy forgives you, and I think you’re going to make a better choice next time. You can get up and go play now.”
But he didn’t. He stayed right where he was. His four-year-old little shoulders heaved up and down as he began to cry.
“I shouldn’t get up yet. I should stay here longer,” he said.
I was confused at first.
“Why, baby?”
“Because I made a bad choice. I should stay here and think about what I did.”
I’d be lying if I said I remember all of the details of that night. I don’t. But I will never forget that he told me he didn’t deserve to get up yet.
Those words stuck with me, because I realized that I feel the same way too, sometimes.
It was as if God said to me, “Don’t your little boy’s words sound familiar? Don’t you act the same way when you feel guilty?”
The truth is, I think my son perfectly displayed in the corner that night what many of us mommas do in our hearts throughout the day.
Guilt convinces us that we don’t deserve to move out of how we are feeling, it says, “Stay right here and feel bad about this.”
But guilt is a liar.
There is a gentle voice of Grace that is continually whispering the Truth – we just need to tune our hearts to what He is saying.
Here are some examples.
Guilt says, “You need to think about what you’ve done.”
While Grace wants us to say to ourselves, “I will keep going, breathe and try again.”
Guilt: You’re always going to feel bad about this.
Grace: God forgives me, and I do too.
Guilt: You’re never going to be enough.
Grace: I am already more than enough through Jesus.
Guilt: You’re a bad mom.
Grace: Good moms know we don’t always get it right.
Guilt: Look at your mistakes:
Grace: Look at how much I love my kids.
Guilt: You’re going to mess up again.
Grace: I’m going to keep doing my best.
Guilt: It’s your fault your kids are like this.
Grace: My kids need Jesus just as much as I do.
Guilt: You made the wrong choice.
Grace: I’m not defined by my best or worst choices.
Friend, if you’ve heard any of guilt’s words, know they’re not coming from your Heavenly Father. They are not the voice of Holy Spirit. The Word of God reminds us that our Enemy is an accuser. It also says he is a liar.
Friend, Grace isn’t the permission to continue in our mistakes, but Grace is the ultimate key to move past guilt and into freedom.
So, the next time you hear those guilty words, tell the Enemy to shut up, and then remind yourself (and him) of the Truth.
Here’s a free printable to help you stay focused!
CLICK THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PDF PRINTABLE.
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